Conceiving God: The Cognitive Origin and Evolution of Religion [Hardcover]

David Lewis-Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2010

A controversial exploration of the origin of religion in the neurology of the human brain.

In this book the noted cognitive archaeologist David Lewis-Williams confronts a question that troubles many people in the world today: Is there a supernatural realm that intervenes in the material world of daily life and leads to the evolution of religions?

Professor Lewis-Williams first describes how science developed within the cocoon of religion and then shows how the natural functioning of the human brain creates experiences that can lead to belief in a supernatural realm, beings, and interventions. Once people have these experiences, they formulate beliefs about
them, and thus creeds are born.

Forty thousand years ago, people were leaving traces in the archaeological record of activities that we can label religious, and Lewis-Williams discusses in detail the evidence preserved in the Volp Caves in France. He also shows that mental imagery produced by the functioning of the human brain can be detected in widely separated religious communities such as Hildegard of Bingen’s in medieval Europe or the San hunters of southern Africa. 100 b&w illustrations

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Endlessly fascinating… Gives countless insights… A must for any anthropology studies collection.” (The Midwest Book Review )

About the Author

David Lewis-Williams is Professor Emeritus and Senior Mentor at the Rock Art Research Institute, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He is the author of The Mind in the Cave, Conceiving God, Inside the Neolithic Mind, and Deciphering Ancient Minds.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (March 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 050005164X
• ISBN-13: 978-0500051641
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.3 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #753,226 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not only for anthropologists, but for any free thinking individual. September 26, 2010

By george korolog

Format:Hardcover

This is an absolutely marvelous book to challenge your thinking not only about the cognitive development of religion and its rituals, both modern and in the mind of man in pre-history, but a well documented book on the tremendous divisions and dangers inherent in religions that are based on belief in the supernatural realm. Is morality evolutionary and do the building blocks of morality pre-date humanity? Why does the teaching of supernatural belief lead us to fanaticism? How do religions consistently revamp their interpretations of their "revealed truths" in order to maintain control of their message. In theology, truth is always post hoc. I could go on and on with all of the valuable information and insight that Dr. Lewis presents, but if you have an interest in understanding evolution, religion and anthropology, I recommend this book highly. Conceiving God: The Cognitive Origin and Evolution of Religion

29 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An endlessly fascinating read that gives countless insights on God, "Conceiving God" is a must for any anthropology collection February 15, 2010

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Hardcover

Why did mankind go to embrace the concept of God? "Conceiving God: The Cognitive Origin and Evolution of Religion" explores the deepest history of religion and how it was cultivated out of the minds of early man. Going deep into the psychology of religion and how the earliest believers in a supreme being came up with their beliefs and began creating their customs and rituals that would ring true in generations to come. An endlessly fascinating read that gives countless insights on God, "Conceiving God" is a must for any anthropology studies collection.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Read!! December 28, 2011

By Michael F. Drummy

Format:Hardcover

I originally borrowed this book from my local library but halfway through it I knew I was going to want to purchase it so I could re-read it and use it as a resource in the future. I have a PhD in historical theology myself but have been a full-fledged atheist for going on a decade or so now - no question about it. This book only serves to reinforce that position. Dr Lewis-Williams argues forcefully and persuasively for the development of belief in a supernatural realm from an evolutionary-archaeological point of view. Somewhere in our (ie homo sapiens) distant past - when we began to think and communicate symbolically - we very gradually "posited" a supernatural realm in order to make sense out of our often terrifying and bewildering cognitive experiences of our interior lives (eg dreams and emotions and altered states) over against the natural material world. For reasons we may never ascertain - this belief in a supernatural realm was obviously sustained over time in our species through natural selection - it HAD to confer some sort of survival advantage on the groups among whom it evolved otherwise it would never have lasted. Socially and culturally the representations and rituals and doctrine and practices and beliefs arising therefrom became universally embedded in our collective human experience and consciousness as "religion". It could therefore be argued that religion is literally "all in our head" - although I don't believe Prof Lewis-Williams says it quite like that - in fact he is at great pains to avoid the very real errors of reductionism. He demonstrates how the "scientific mind" arose out of and has surpassed the "religious mind" in terms of helping us understand more deeply and accurately the world in which we live. Based on what he sees in Europe it is his opinion that - while we are obviously not living yet in a "post-religious" world - we are inexorably moving toward that. In this regard Prof Lewis-Williams echoes Kant's rallying cry of "Sapere Aude" uttered at the beginning of the Enlightment: Let us throw off the shackles of ignorance and learn to think for ourselves. And I couldn't agree more. This is one of the best volumes on the burgeoning topic of religion and evolution that I have ever read.